Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
#1124145
11/29/11 05:33 PM
11/29/11 05:33 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
So after replacing a leak in my power steering pump, I tried to start my car and it wouldn't fire. Then, my battery died and couldn't be revived. One new battery later, I realized that my car still won't start. Then I see it: the Green Puddle of Death underneath my driver's side tailpipe. So here's where the poll comes in...Is it a head gasket? (It's a 11.5:1 compression engine but the gaskets are less than 2 years old)...Is it a crack in the cylinder? (They're .055 over bore)...Or is it a crack in the aluminum Indy SRs? The polls are open and the results will be revealed later this week.
Crack in cylinder
|
9%, 3 Votes
|
The coolant fairy put it there while I was sleeping
|
46%, 16 Votes
|
Crack in head
|
20%, 7 Votes
|
Blown head gasket
|
26%, 9 Votes
|
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: 1968RR]
#1124147
11/29/11 05:40 PM
11/29/11 05:40 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,719 Space Station #5
471Magnum
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,719
Space Station #5
|
Does one of your PS bracket bolts go into the cylinder block or head. If so, you might have screwed a bolt in too deep and punched into a water jacket. That would be the coincidental explanation.
-Jim
I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman. He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.
Currently Mopar-less
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: Fat_Mike]
#1124151
11/29/11 05:56 PM
11/29/11 05:56 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
The engine was turning over, but not starting. As soon as I saw the puddle beneath the exhaust, I stopped trying to start the engine. When I pulled the #7 plug and saw coolant on it, no coolant flowed out of the plug hole. When I pulled the #5 plug, it looked fine.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: 471Magnum]
#1124152
11/29/11 07:20 PM
11/29/11 07:20 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,813 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Wagonmaster
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,813
Tulsa, Oklahoma
|
Quote:
Does one of your PS bracket bolts go into the cylinder block or head. If so, you might have screwed a bolt in too deep and punched into a water jacket.
That would be the coincidental explanation.
I can guarantee there is one on a SB. DAMHIK.
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: topside]
#1124154
11/29/11 09:03 PM
11/29/11 09:03 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
|
I'm assuming BB & as you know all header bolts are wet. I'd pull that side header & pump it up w the rad tool & see which one is leaking EDIT Oh I missed that there was coolant in the cyl
Last edited by RapidRobert; 11/29/11 09:07 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1124155
11/29/11 10:15 PM
11/29/11 10:15 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,177 ill
dennismopar73
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,177
ill
|
Quote:
I'm assuming BB & as you know all header bolts are wet. I'd pull that side header & pump it up w the rad tool & see which one is leaking EDIT Oh I missed that there was coolant in the cyl
Well if those heads have open holes to water jacket , it could get into cyl , but never seen those heads , I dono? but , I'm betting on head casket
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: dennismopar73]
#1124156
11/29/11 10:31 PM
11/29/11 10:31 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
|
Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
|
Quote:
Quote:
I'm assuming BB & as you know all header bolts are wet. I'd pull that side header & pump it up w the rad tool & see which one is leaking EDIT Oh I missed that there was coolant in the cyl
Well if those heads have open holes to water jacket , it could get into cyl , but never seen those heads , I dono? but , I'm betting on head casket
Pretty much just have to pull the head to see anything
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1124157
11/29/11 11:06 PM
11/29/11 11:06 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
I've literally got one more head bolt to go before I can authoritatively state the cause of the problem. Based on the goo that was on the bolts closest to cylinder #7 and the coolant that was on the plug, the problem is near the rear of the engine on the driver's side. I'm taking a break. I'll update when I get the last ridiculously-difficult-to-get-loose-with-TTI-headers-still-in-the-bay bolt out.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1124159
11/30/11 12:27 AM
11/30/11 12:27 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
Wow. This is embarrassing. The correct answer was "none of the above". Recall that the #7 cylinder was the suspect (gooey head bolts, coolant from the driver's side, coolant on the #7 plug).... When I pulled the head, I noticed a loose wire hanging from the wiring harness (I have no idea what it does/did). I also noticed that the wire was completely flat at the clipped end. Then I noticed that there was the imprint of a wire on the head gasket going across a coolant port across the gasket material again and into the cylinder. This car has run like this for two years. I got this thing into the 11s. It ran fine...AND THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE ACROSS THE HEAD GASKET GOING INTO THE CYLINDER. Wow. I'm both embarrassed and amazed. I'll post some photos in the next few days.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: 340SHORTY]
#1124161
11/30/11 01:00 AM
11/30/11 01:00 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
I just noticed that the wire ran across a coolant port and an oil hole before going into the cylinder. Good thing that copper's softer than steel, I guess.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
Re: Coolant through the tailpipe: what's the cause?
[Re: topside]
#1124164
11/30/11 11:13 PM
11/30/11 11:13 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
1968RR
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
San Angelo, Texas, U.S.A.
|
FYI: the anonymous fried wire turned out to be the neutral safety switch. One of those wires that you only notice when you need.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me." - Mookie Wilson
|
|
|
|
|